Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog tail chasing and compulsive behavior case report
By D. d'Angelo et al.·Published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science·2022·View original on Semantic Scholar →
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Original publication title: An Interdisciplinary Approach for Compulsive Behavior in Dogs: A Case Report
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old male German Shepherd mix was brought in for tail chasing, a compulsive behavior that had caused him to injure himself in the past. After a thorough evaluation, the vet recommended a combination of medication (fluoxetine and α-s1 casozepine) and a behavioral recovery program with a specialist. Within three months, the dog's tail chasing episodes significantly decreased in both intensity and frequency, and he did not have any new episodes in the following three months. This approach helped improve his overall well-being and reduced his compulsive behavior.
People also search for: dog tail chasing treatment · German Shepherd compulsive behavior · fluoxetine for dogs · dog behavior specialist
Abstract
Compulsive disorder is a debilitating condition affecting both humans and animals, characterized by intrusive thoughts and recurring out-of-place behaviors. Among them, tail chasing might represent one of the most common traits in compulsive dogs. Herein, we reported the case of a 7-year-old intact male German Shepherd mixed-breed dog, presenting with tail chasing behavior. He underwent a first behavioral evaluation 1 year before (at the age of 6), when he injured himself with severe wounds at level of the tail and left thigh. To avoid any specific suffering and increase his physical health, of course, the study was carried out through an interdisciplinary approach, employing a veterinary behaviorist and a rehabilitating dog instructor. Three months after pharmacological treatment with fluoxetine and α-s1 casozepine, associated with a behavioral recovery program, the owner reported an improvement of compulsive events in his dog, in terms of intensity and frequency. Interestingly, over the following 3 months, the dog did not experience any new tail chasing episodes.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Semantic Scholar: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/35400099